Free People Horoscopes By Tracy Allen, Week Of August 25–31

Follow @astrotherapist on Twitter and email tallennyc@gmail.com to schedule a reading over phone or Skype. Available in-person in NYC! $125 for 60 minutes, $150 for 90 minutes.

VIRGO

August 23–September 22

You have a chance to combine thought and action this week when mental Mercury in Virgo syncs up with dynamic Mars and serious Saturn in your mindset house. You’re able to express your point of view and assert yourself verbally, so you’ll be quite persuasive if you want to be. But Saturn has been acting as a gatekeeper in your head the past couple of years, putting your thinking to the test and causing you to edit yourself. Now you may be inclined to question your own actions and hold yourself back. It’s fine to mull things over, but in the end, you need to trust your judgment. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are your best teachers. The new moon in your sign is opposing foggy Neptune in your relationship angle, prompting you to consider your needs and feelings and what personal changes you might make to better address them. Especially if you’ve been idealizing a relationship, losing yourself in one or not getting what you need from someone, turn your attention to taking care of yourself.

LIBRA

September 23–October 22

Your social life could have ups and downs this week, with Venus in your group zone harmonizing with Uranus in your partnership angle, while quarreling with Mars and Saturn in your worth sector. Your rapport with others may be impacted by your confidence level, or money or values may cause a problem. Try to maintain a healthy detachment and give people room to be themselves. Spontaneity, flexibility and an open mind will help a lot. You could also meet someone new through other people—likely someone with a common interest. For almost two years now, Saturn has been drawing your attention to finances, resources, values, possessions and your sense of self-worth. When Mars runs into Saturn, you may feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to change the state of affairs in one of these areas. Targeted action is your best bet now. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. The new moon suggests that a new restorative ritual is in order—something you can do every day to release stress.

SCORPIO

October 23–November 21

Your co-ruler Mars runs into Saturn in Scorpio this week, which is a lot like driving a car with the brake on. Whether you hold yourself back, someone stands in your way or circumstances prevent you from making significant progress, you’re likely to become frustrated and may feel powerless. You might be trying to do too much, when you’re better off focusing on doing one thing well. Channel your intense drive into one well-chosen activity at a time. Networking and support from friends can help, given that Mercury in your group zone is syncing with Mars and Saturn. You won’t get the accolades that you’re after right now if you keep doing things exactly the same way. This is a good time to try a novel approach, learn a new skill, switch up your daily routine, change a habit or step back to get a fresh perspective on your work. The new moon in your hopes-and-humanity sector encourages you to set a new goal, make a new friend or a new professional contact, launch a philanthropic project or join a group.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22–December 21

Impromptu fun and adventure are a distinct possibility this week, with pleasure-seeking Venus in your exploration house in sync with carefree Uranus in your play sector. Find new, unexpected ways to enjoy yourself and be open to whatever opportunities may arise. Try to be aware of the subconscious behavior that threatens to undermine you, as Mars and Saturn in your subliminal sector vie with Venus. You’re likely to want one thing, while doing something else that runs counter to your conscious desires. You could get stuck in an old groove that you need to break out of, and you might take your frustration out indiscriminately. Stop and listen to what’s going on inside you. Is there something you need to finish up before you can move ahead? Ask yourself why the universe might be prompting you to slow down. The new moon at the top of your chart implies it’s time to set a new goal, and that probably entails letting go of something from the past.

CAPRICORN

December 22–January 19

Strive to listen and learn from people with a different perspective, in an effort to facilitate teamwork this week. Mental Mercury in your outlook sector is gelling with doer Mars in your group zone, so an open mind and an optimistic attitude can work wonders. Merc is also in sync with your ruler Saturn, suggesting that taking the long view will help you find your new place in the scheme of things. With Mars bumping into Saturn, it will be all too easy to get frustrated with your progress and blame others. But this pairing is instructing you to rein it in and apply your energy more appropriately. Work hard on something worthwhile instead of trying to do too much and hoping to get others to share your agenda. You crave a feeling of closeness, but may view someone as withholding or disagreeable. A breakthrough with family is possible now, especially if you let go of an old pattern or memory. The new moon favors a fresh philosophy—write a personal mantra if the spirit moves you.

AQUARIUS

January 20–February 18

Thanks to a Mars-Saturn meeting at the top of your chart this week, you may feel like you’ve hit a wall in your career trajectory. Don’t throw in the towel, but don’t try to force matters either. Take a moment to gather your strength and regroup. Soul-searching, in-depth thinking and research will enable you to figure out how to focus your efforts more effectively. Working hard on one thing at a time may be the key. You need to answer to your inner authority now rather than expecting someone else to give you the stamp of approval. A relationship may feel the effects of your ambition now, with Venus in your others angle battling Mars and Saturn. Or perhaps you’ll just find it hard to partner with someone or tend to your personal life when you’re striving to reach a goal. Flexibility, spontaneity and an open mind will make relating easier. The new moon cajoles you to be willing to trust another person and invest in a relationship.

PISCES

February 19–March 20

Venus has you pondering how you want to be spending your time. What do you want your day to look like? What kind of work do you want to be doing? If your plan for the future is too narrow or rigid, you may have doubts this week about getting what you want. Education, travel obligations or the limits of your knowledge could also keep work or other responsibilities from falling into place. When you recognize that a change in your finances or confidence level will likely accompany a positive job development, good things can follow. For instance, maybe your self-image is holding you back. Or you have to accept that the job you covet won’t pay as much as you think you need, and your material requirements will subsequently shift. When you feel stuck this week, fine-tune your vision. What are your next action steps? The new moon reminds you of others’ needs and feelings and encourages you to breathe new life into a relationship or open yourself up to a new one.

ARIES

March 21–April 19

Your ruling planet Mars has encounters with various other planets this week that are likely to set the tone for you. He’s coming together with Saturn in your depth sector, which suggests an intense concentration of energy that will build up inside you if you don’t harness it purposefully. Whatever you’re doing, zero in on it and act with passion, integrity and commitment. You’ll become frustrated if you insist on a burst of energy instead of focusing your fire. Choose to do something difficult and do it well. You’re able to think things through thoroughly, thanks to a cooperative angle from Mercury. You also need steadfastness and discipline to stick with something or someone now. Your desires and whims are running on an altogether different track, with pleasure-seeking Venus in your joy sector clicking with impulsive Uranus in Aries. Spontaneous play, creativity and romance can lighten the mood. The new moon nudges you to change a habit or a way of doing things. Release something stagnant, and then start fresh.

TAURUS

April 20–May 20

One-on-one interaction and creative, playful, affectionate or romantic expression are favored this week, with Mercury in your joy zone clicking with Mars in your relationship angle. When Mars runs into Saturn, you’re reminded that relationships are often hard work, and your response to that fact is a reflection of the relationship’s worth to you. You may be pushing for something from another person now—or from the world in general—and are feeling frustrated, perhaps by a lack of recognition. You could feel put to the test, or maybe a particular relationship is being tested. This situation is unsettling to you, in light of the conflict between Mars and your ruler Venus. But don’t avoid a problem; thinking about it and talking about it will help. You’re not getting what you’re after, but a good first step to feeling more at peace would be to let go of the past. That will also remedy relations with your family now. The new moon encourages you to find a new path to happiness.

GEMINI

May 21–June 20

Mercury’s current position at the bottom of your chart can help you examine your emotional state and express your innermost feelings. When Merc hooks up with Mars and Saturn in your productivity house this week, reflecting on childhood patterns and the past could lead to realizations about your job, health, habits, work ethic, skills, time management or your usual modus operandi. Look back in order to understand the best way of proceeding. With Mars and Saturn coming together, there’s a definite theme of working hard and working smart. You’re liable to feel blocked if you’re inclined to barrel ahead and operate without clear intent. But the planets are trying to get you to pause and figure out how you need to do things differently so you can be more effective. And although you should have an opportunity to socialize now, responsibilities or ambition are apt to keep you from seeing people as much as you’d like. The new moon beckons you to start a new at-home ritual.

CANCER

June 21–July 22

This week’s new moon falls in your cognition-and-communication house, placing an emphasis on how you think and talk. Mercury is also in that house and forming opportune angles to Mars and Saturn in your self-expression zone. This is a great time for coming up with novel ideas, adopting a fresh attitude, gathering information, speaking from the heart and figuring out different ways to express your authentic self and pursue personal fulfillment. Strive to understand what you can do to make yourself happier. Ask yourself open-ended questions that allow you to discover what is true for you now, what has the most meaning in your life and how your beliefs have shifted. A Mars-Saturn meeting calls for you to pause and define what you’re driving at, creatively or romantically. You’re likely to feel blocked, but the point is to channel your energy wisely and to have a clear picture of what you’re after. Err on the side of pragmatism and try to distinguish between “want” and “need”.

LEO

July 23–August 22

Venus in Leo is clicking and clashing with three other planets this week, which is apt to affect your rapport with others and your ability to get what you want. Try to be conscious of your underlying mood and be willing to take responsibility for your feelings and face them squarely. Come to terms with an issue from the past or work through an ingrained pattern so you can travel freer and lighter, with less emotional baggage. You probably feel a bit stuck, with doer Mars bumping into restrictive Saturn, and family commitments or the need to play it safe may be partial causes. Pause to take your emotional temperature and tend to your own needs rather than pushing for someone else to meet them. A Venus-Uranus meetup suggests you’ll draw in new people and experiences if you have an open mind and welcome a fresh perspective. Let your attraction to someone or something completely different lead the way. Being clear on your self-worth and your values can save you from relationship confusion now.

Follow @astrotherapist on Twitter and email tallennyc@gmail.com to schedule a reading over phone or Skype. Available in-person in NYC! $125 for 60 minutes, $150 for 90 minutes.